“I want as tough a schedule as I can get to mold the team to playing at this level,” Patterson said.

Last year, Silver Lake knocked off McLouth, 1-0, in the regional finals before winning a state title.

For the first time, the two teams met in the regular season in what was a rematch of that regional game.

Again this season, the two teams battled in two exciting games.

Silver Lake won the first game, 1-0, in 10 innings, and the second game, 2-1, in 11 innings.

Although the Bulldogs dropped two tough losses, they also swept a doubleheader against Pomona at home.

McLouth won the first game, 8-0, as Catherine Gunther pitched a one-hitter, going seven innings and striking out 16. Gunther also went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.

Catcher Kendall Patterson also went 3-for-3 and had 3 RBI.

Teammate Leslie Lawson provided highlights as well, going 2-for-4 with two doubles.

The Bulldogs also shut Pomona out in the second game, 10-0.

Samantha Farris took the mound in the second game, allowing three hits and striking out 13. Gunther again was perfect at the plate, going 5-for-5 with four singles and a double.

Patterson went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a single and 3 RBI, while Heaven Mills went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs.

As a pitcher, Gunther has McLouth’s top arm. She’s pitched 24 innings, giving up six hits and one run. She also has an extremely low earned-run average of 0.37.

At the plate, Patterson is McLouth’s top batter. The freshman is batting .700 with 12 singles, two doubles and 7 RBI. She’s 14-for-20 in plate appearances.